Today's Sher

Kuch bhi karo par paise ghar mein laao baap yeh kahta hai

Maa ke aashirwaad se kuch bann gaya ab paise ghar aata hai

Bhagwaan ke ghar mein dher hai andher nahin yeh sunaa hoga

yeh dher aur andher ki chaabi tum mein hai yeh samajhnaa hoga

I felt sad

I felt sad when 'Ponniyin Selvan-1' failed to get an award at the Asian Film Awards 2023. My anger was compounded because while 'RRR' won laurels, my favorite of the two failed to get an award. I thought music or costume will get an award. But it did not.

Do not get disheartened 'Ponniyin Selvan' fans.  I have seen 'Ponniyin Selvan-1' four times. I managed to see 'RRR' once and by forwarding I completed 'Kantara'. I am talking of south Indian movies. These are due to the times we are in. It is difficult to see movies when one is not expected to like.

I think Mani Ratnam has planned superbly. Because when I saw for the fourth time, I realized that Karuthiruman (a crucial character) is already shown in Ponniyin Selvan-1. The planning, script are brilliant and imaginative. How fantastically they have managed two parts at a single go. And that too during Corona peak. 

I am confident of A R Rahman and the songs of 'Ponniyin Selvan-2' will be great. I am sure of it. This is what I am expecting the most from 'Ponniyin Selvan -2'.

Good wishes, dear readers.

Kasparov or Carlsen

 

Who is your favorite player?

Mine is Pragg. Yes. I don't lie.

Is Ponniyin Selvan by Kalki Krishnamurthy a great book ?

When I think of written thoughts I like Anton Chekov the most. Short stories of Tagore are great. They are great authors. 

But what about Ponniyin Selvan by Kalki Krishnamurthy?

Kalki wrote the story in 1950s in a magazine Kalki as a weekly story continued for 5 years.  It was quite popular among general public.  

I feel the focus of Kalki is an amazing feat. He does not write about achievement of Raja raja chola or others. But showcases a small period of Chola empire.  

Mani Ratnam says that Ponniyin Selvan story is meant to be interpreted as suited to its reader. Part 4 and Part 5 of Ponniyin Selvan are very confusing to me. It might have been interesting in 1950s as a weekly.  But in novel form it is difficult to have a clear image in mind from the writing. I flipped through pages in Kindle and later listened to audio version of Part 4 and Part 5.

Kalki had a great responsibility.  He had to tell the history.  He had to show a great empire in a way that people are proud of.  At the same time he did not want to belittle the other major kingdoms. 

So all in all Ponniyin Selvan is an interesting story.  It remains to be seen how Mani Ratnam and his team present the rest of the story as a cinema.  I am interested to see Ponniyin Selvan 2. What about you?

This is interesting.  Oomai (mute) photo from Google images.  Rajaji and Kalki. 

Ponniyin Selvan 2

Scene - Oomai Rani manages to save her God son Arulmozhi Varman.  Adventures of Poonkuzhali in the rescue of Arulmozhi Varman and Vanthiyedevan. Subsequent treatment of fever of the prince Arunmozhi Varman  in Nagapattinam Buddhist monastery. 

Scene - Sundara Chola is sad. Tells his tragic love story to his daughter Kundavai. And flashback of past island life of young Sundara Chola and Oomai Rani. Sundara Chola had to leave Oomai Rani because of his duties as prince.

Scene - Oomai Rani tries to commit suicide but fails. An injured young Veerapandian is brought to the island where Oomai Rani lives.  Love blossoms between Veerapandian and Oomai Rani. 

Scene -  Vanthiyedevan after informing Kundavai  that prince Arulmozhi Varman is alive prepares to  persuade Karikalan from visiting Kadambur but fails. Vanthiyadevan comes to know and sees secret plans of Nandini who wants Karikalan's head as a revenge for Veerapandian. 

Scene - Kadambur palace visit by Karikalan.  Meeting with Nandini. 

Scene - Vanthiyedevan,  Nandini,  periya pazhuvettarayar and Karikalan.  Periya Pazhuvettarayar  manages to pin Vanthiyedevan and makes him unconscious.  He wants to kill Nandini and by mistake the knife pierces Karikalan. Death of Karikalan. 

Scene - Vanthiyedevan brings the body of Karikalan to Thanjavur and angry people and high officers suspect Vanthiyedevan for killing Karikalan and he is  jailed.  Learns from fellow prisoner that Senthan Amuthan is real Madhuranthakan or Uttama Chola

Scene - Periya Pazhuvettarayar takes blame of killing Karikalan and commits suicide. But before dying confesses to Nambi that Karikalan died due to some other reason. Vanthiyedevan released from jail.

Scene - Coronation ready for making Arulmozhi Varman as king. Arulmozhi Varman refuses and says Senthan Amuthan is real Madhuranthakan and real Uttama Cholan. Senthan Amuthan becomes king. Poonkuzhali becomes his wife.

The end

Ponniyin Selvan 1

Present day Thanjavur palace having Maratha influence due to maratha rulers.

Vandhiyadevan is on a mission to Kadambur to find out the plans of chieftains on the future of Chola empire. He was sent on this mission by Karikalan the eldest son of Sundara Chola the current emperor.  Sundara Chola is bedridden due to illness. Vanthiyedevan after collecting information is assigned to go to Thanjavur and inform Sundara Chola and Kundavai (the only daughter of Sundara Chola and sister of Karikalan).

During these times there appears a comet in the sky. This according to soothsayer means a death in the royal family of Cholas. 

Vanthiyedevan befriends Ahrwharkadiyan Nambi during his journey who is a Vishnu bhakt and who manages access to high offices and places due to his wit, bhakti and smartness.

When Kundavai is informed about the secret plans of chieftains she sends Vanthiyedevan to Lanka where the youngest son of Sundara Chola Arunmozhi Varman is waging war. She asks Vanthiyedevan  to bring Arunmozhi back to Thanjavur from Lanka.

Kundavai is smart and attempts to break the secret plans of chieftains by proposing marriage alliance of her brothers.

Peria pazhuvettarayar the eldest chieftain has a beautiful wife Nandini who is in reality is devoted to Pandya kingdom (Madurai). Pandyas and Cholas have bitter enmity.

Vanthiyedevan reaches Lanka helped by Poonkuzhali who is expert in boats and seas. Vanthiyedevan also earlier befriended Senthan Amuthan in Thanjavur.  Senthan Amuthan is interested in marrying Poonkuzhali.

Vanthiyedevan meets Nambi in Lanka. Together they manage to meet Arulmozhi Varman.  

Arulmozhi Varman tells the story of Oomai Rani who always saves Arulmozhi Varman from deep disasters. Arulmozhi Varman also explains why he is called Ponniyin Selvan. 

Sundara Chola realizes that conspiracy in his kingdom is strong and orders arrest warrant of Arulmozhi Varman.  This he believed would bring Arulmozhi Varman safely to Thanjavur. 

Pandyas enter Lanka too and want to kill Arulmozhi Varman.  They mistake Vanthiyedevan for Arulmozhi Varman because of great plan of Arulmozhi Varman.  

Arulmozhi realizes Pandyas have captured Vanthiyedevan and tries to rescue him. A series of fight and sea storm makes the ship drown in the sea along with Arulmozhi Varman and Vanthiyedevan.  Poonkuzhali observes this happening.

News spread in Thanjavur that Arulmozhi Varman is dead in sea battle. 

In the Lankan sea Oomai Rani tries to save her God son Arulmozhi Varman. 

What happens next? Watch Ponniyin Selvan part 2.

Dal proteins

I used to be in gym and do workouts in my earlier phase of life.

I have an experimental mindset inside me and observed closely the effect of proteins. 

If you are not into increasing bulk of muscles or unlikely to injure your muscles then dal(pulses) are good enough.  They are helpful in muscles maintenance.  But not in injuries or increasing size. Soybeans are much better here. 

Most vegetarians in India consume milk and milk of course is great in muscle building.  But they have fat.

Food choice of course is a matter of so many factors.  My point here is to highlight significance of dal. And they are fine for average workers.